Tyson Chandler welcomed back by New Orleans Hornets' teammates, coach

The Hornets trade of center Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma City was voided Wednesday night after Chandler failed the physical examination administered by the Thunder's medical staff.

Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower informed Coach Byron Scott and the rest of the team after New Orleans' 117-85 nationally televised victory over the Orlando Magic at the New Orleans Arena.

The rights to forwards Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith, along with those of DeVon Hardin, immediately revert to Oklahoma City.

Chandler, who is still bothered by a sprained left ankle that apparently could keep him sidelined through the Hornets' upcoming three-game West-Coast road trip, will rejoin the team today and accompany it to Los Angeles for Friday night's game against the Lakers in the Staples Center.

Bower would not comment Wednesday night, saying he would speak after today's 2 p.m. trading deadline.

The smiles in the Hornets' post-game dressing room spoke volumes, the widest of which was worn by All-Star forward David West, who was highly critical of Tuesday's trade.

"Hey man, sometimes things happen. That's all I got to say," West said. "We've just got to make sure he understands when he gets back in here -- we'll see him in the morning -- I think he knows as players how we felt about him leaving. He's just got to be ready to come back, get healthy and get back to work."

Along with Chandler's return, the remainder of his nearly $35.75 million salary also goes back on the Hornets' payroll. That possibly could cause financial complications if the Hornets cannot get under the expected $70 million salary cap for next season in the form of the NBA's luxury tax -- $1 for each $1 a team is over the cap.

Monetary implications, however, were not on the minds of Hornets' players or Scott on Wednesday night.

"We'll welcome him back with open arms," Scott said. "I had a feeling, talking to Jeff, that something like this might happen. We'll welcome him back with open arms and tell him to get healthy. It's just like last year. Let's get ready."

Critics panned the trade Tuesday, as did West, saying it was a business decision more than a basketball one.

Scott said before the game that Chandler's ankle injury -- which caused him to miss 12 games before Tuesday's trade -- likely would not be healed sufficiently to allow Chandler to play until Wednesday at the earliest when New Orleans returns home to host the Detroit Pistons.

"We talked (Tuesday) at shootaround," West said. "His body feels well. He's got to get that wheel right. We've got the start we wanted to post-All-Star break. Obviously we're going on the road; tough games. We've got to be ready to gear it up for the home stretch."

All-Star guard Chris Paul, who expressed disappointment at the prospect of his friend being traded, said Wednesday he was excited to have Chandler return.

"Hopefully he comes back and hits the ground running," Paul said. "He's still injured. But when he gets back, he knows what time it is. I think he can give us a huge lift. Hopefully, it can bring us closer together. T.C. is family to us. There won't be any animosity when he comes in here. He understands what the goal has been all along."

On Tuesday, however, Bower said that without dealing Chandler to Oklahoma City for Wilcox and Smith, the Hornets were not equipped, in his opinion, to make a run deep into the playoffs.

"We went into this trade to garner more frontcourt depth to add to our team as we continue our push toward the playoffs," Bower said in a statement. "We expect Tyson and the rest of our big guys to step up to the challenge."

Chandler's statistics have dropped this year compared to last -- 8.8 points, 8.3 rebounds compared to 11.8 and 11.7 a year ago -- and the Hornets came into Wednesday night's game ranked 30th in rebounding.

"I know sometimes we get emotional," Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic said. "We have to deal with that the best possible way. For us, it's great. Tyson is always a big part of this organization and an unbelievable person.

"You get attached to certain guys, and there's a great chemistry going on. I was surprised. I don't know how many times these things happen in the league. But it's great. He's still part of this team. Now, it's a matter of how he's going to deal with this and accept it."

Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3814.